Head coach Ken Niumatalolo met with members of the media this afternoon to discuss the state of Navy football heading into spring practice, which begins next Monday.

First and foremost, thanks so much to Navy sports information director Scott Strasemeier and the Naval Academy Athletic Association for hosting another wonderful lunch at The Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport. Great food! I had the crabcake sandwich if anyone cares. All jumbo lump crab meat! I highly recommend it.

I have not transcribed my tape so I am going to provide Navy football fans with some general information based on our meeting with Coach Niumatalolo, who seemed very relaxed and comfortable and eager to begin molding the 2016 team.

Navy lost a massive 35-member senior class and that leadership void is what worries Niumatalolo the most. You do not easily replace captains the caliber of Keenan Reynolds and Bernie Sarra while several other graduating seniors were strong leaders.

"My biggest concern is building our culture. We are starting from ground zero," Niumatalolo said.

That being said, Niumatalolo has been impressed with the leadership provided so far by newly-named captains Toneo Gulley and Daniel Gonzales. Navy began its "Fourth Quarters" off-season conditioning workouts last week and the coaching staff liked the way Gulley and Gonzales took charge.

"Those two guys are already doing a lot of good things as far as leadership," Niumatalolo said.

Asked to address areas of concern on the field, Niumatalolo immediately thought of the defensive line, which graduated some starters. Bernie Sarra was basically a four-year starter at nose guard while William Anthony authored two ouststanding seasons at left defensive end.

Patrick Forrestal is the heir apparent at nose guard and has done some good things in the past. Forrestal must prove he can be an every down player and hold the point of attack while taking on double-teams.

Quarterback Keenan Reynolds becamet the fourth player in Navy history to have his jersey retired, joining Heisman Trophy winners Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino along with Napoleon McCallum, a record-setting running back. Reynolds is the first Navy football player to have his jersey retired while he was still a midshipman at the academy. (Video by Bill Wagner)

Quarterback Keenan Reynolds becamet the fourth player in Navy history to have his jersey retired, joining Heisman Trophy winners Roger Staubach and Joe Bellino along with Napoleon McCallum, a record-setting running back. Reynolds is the first Navy football player to have his jersey retired while he was still a midshipman at the academy. (Video by Bill Wagner)

Junior Michael Raiford and sophomore Jarvis Polu aenter spring camp as the starters at right and left end, respectively, but there will be plenty of competition.

It is a similar situation on the other side of the ball as Navy will be graduating every single starter from the offensive line. Right tackle Blake Copeland, a rising senior, has seen considerable action the last couple seasons. Robert Lindsey, who started four games at right tackle in 2015, has been shifted inside to guard.

Current freshman Andrew Wood will get first crack at the left tackle job left vacant by Joey Gaston while senior Adam West is listed No. 1 at the left guard spot occupied so capably for three years by E.K. Binns. In somewhat of a surprise, junior Parker Wade enters spring drills atop the depth chart at center over senior Maurice Morris.

"We are very inexperienced, but we have a bunch of guys we think have a chance," Niumatalolo said. "We're as big as we've ever been (along the offensive line)."

Niumatalolo said Tago Smith is the clear-cut starter at quarterback while Will Worth has solidified the backup job. Those players will be non-contact during spring camp. However, all of the other quarterbacks will be live as the coaching staff must identify a No. 3 signal caller and arrange the depth chart further down the line.

For current plebes such as Zach Abey, Garret Lewis, Cole Euverard and Brandon Coleman, this spring is very important toward proving their future is at quarterback and not some other position.

Speaking of position changes, there are a few in addition to the aforementioned move of Lindsey from tackle to guard. Raiford played nose guard last season and is making the switch to end, where defensive line coach Shaun Nua feels he is more comfortable. Junior Tyris Wooten has been switched from wide receiver to cornerback and the staff is hopeful he can make some noise.

Gonzales leads the list of players who will sit out most of spring drills while recovering from an injury or surgery. Safety Daiquan Thomasson and linebacker Mike Kelly will also be limited.

Niumatalolo said he will be personally keeping watch over the battle for the starting placekicker job. Navy must replace a two-year starter in Austin Grebe and senior D.J. Grant-Johnson will be challenged by sophomore Bennett Moehring and junior Patrick Cassley.

Navy canceled the final three practices of spring camp last year because a veteran squad did not need anymore work and the coaching staff did not want to risk injuries. That will not happen this year as Niumatalolo declared the Mids would utilize all 15 allotted practices.